July 11, 2010
PART ONE OF A SERIES: Russ Houck Recalls Huntington’s Emergency Preparedness
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) - The City of Huntington restructured its budget at the last minute for retention of three employees with knowledge of operating and repairing the pump and levy system that protects us from an overflowing Ohio River. A Corps of Engineers floodwall evaluation has spawned rethinking of nearly anyone could operate and repair equipment for this taken for granted flood protection.
Afterwards, council and the administration had a more appreciative perspective of the concrete and grass walls. Frances Jackson chairs city council’s public safety committee. She was one of the council members convinced of the need to retain expert to operate 440 volt pumps at necessary stations is a far glimpse from “mowing,” which often consists of walking the levee looking for weak spots.
In fact, the discussion opened forward thinking, “Are we prepared for a major-major rain upriver,” Jackson asked. “How sturdy is the wall?”
Preparedness extends beyond the Ohio River, which also floats more chemical filled barges up or down river than railways.
Former Huntington police officer and now city councilman Russ Houck recalls early days of disaster planning. At that time the term “civil defense” and orange and black “fallout shelter” signs were the equivalent of Homeland Security and the color coded terror warning alerts.
Needless to say, at that time, the ‘classified’ Huntington Pilot Plant in East Huntington which recycled uranium filled a quadrant --- one that likely elevated the city to a ‘prime’ target in the event of a nuclear exchange.
Houck recalls monthly mutual aide planning meeting with police agencies in the region. At that time virtually every hypothetical had a plan.
A rainy night in November activated the preparations. Houck recalls receiving a 10-22 (come in immediately) at 7:13 p.m. on Saturday November 14, 1971.
“I was a shift commander,” the former officer recalled. After a quick briefing, I was to take my units and go to parking areas at Cabell Huntington and St. Mary’s Hospitals and clears all vehicles out of the ER room entrance.”
Due to planning, the Ashland Police were doing the same at the hospitals in that Kentucky city.
A tactical unit went to the airport. Traffic control units were set up at the Spring Valley Bridge and in Ceredo. Their goal --- divert traffic away from the site.
“Everything was in place; everyone had a responsibility,” Houck explained.
Although the Marshall plane crash was a catastrophe for which emergency responders trained, Houck remembers a fire at Standard UltraMarine (now BASF) causing anxious moments, particularly concerning one tank.
The fire went on for three hours. Three people died, one a firefighter from a heart attack. Jimmy Thacker working from an Ariel ladder was blown from his perch by a second explosion.
“It blew him off the ladder,” Houck said. “If he had not had a safety belt on, he would have been dead.”
The construction of Interstate 64 resulted in major tweaks, as the highway became a major piece of evacuation infrastructure.
What about a reverse circumstance, such as the City serving as a host for evacuated refugees. Houck remembered that before the Huntington Civic Center, the Memorial Field House as well as Marshall University dormitories were planned destinations.
Don’t laugh but in an era mostly before the porta-potty, Houck knew that one plan was to rip the seats off chairs, place them in the fields next to the Field House, and did latrines. Preparedness had tents, medical supplies, and food rations stored in the basement of Huntington City Hall.
The then shift commander, now councilman, knew that an influx of individuals meant sanitary, food, and health challenges, as well as housing preparation.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
PART ONE OF A SERIES: Russ Houck Recalls Huntington’s Emergency Preparedness
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) - The City of Huntington restructured its budget at the last minute for retention of three employees with knowledge of operating and repairing the pump and levy system that protects us from an overflowing Ohio River. A Corps of Engineers floodwall evaluation has spawned rethinking of nearly anyone could operate and repair equipment for this taken for granted flood protection.
Afterwards, council and the administration had a more appreciative perspective of the concrete and grass walls. Frances Jackson chairs city council’s public safety committee. She was one of the council members convinced of the need to retain expert to operate 440 volt pumps at necessary stations is a far glimpse from “mowing,” which often consists of walking the levee looking for weak spots.
In fact, the discussion opened forward thinking, “Are we prepared for a major-major rain upriver,” Jackson asked. “How sturdy is the wall?”
Preparedness extends beyond the Ohio River, which also floats more chemical filled barges up or down river than railways.
Former Huntington police officer and now city councilman Russ Houck recalls early days of disaster planning. At that time the term “civil defense” and orange and black “fallout shelter” signs were the equivalent of Homeland Security and the color coded terror warning alerts.
Needless to say, at that time, the ‘classified’ Huntington Pilot Plant in East Huntington which recycled uranium filled a quadrant --- one that likely elevated the city to a ‘prime’ target in the event of a nuclear exchange.
Houck recalls monthly mutual aide planning meeting with police agencies in the region. At that time virtually every hypothetical had a plan.
A rainy night in November activated the preparations. Houck recalls receiving a 10-22 (come in immediately) at 7:13 p.m. on Saturday November 14, 1971.
“I was a shift commander,” the former officer recalled. After a quick briefing, I was to take my units and go to parking areas at Cabell Huntington and St. Mary’s Hospitals and clears all vehicles out of the ER room entrance.”
Due to planning, the Ashland Police were doing the same at the hospitals in that Kentucky city.
A tactical unit went to the airport. Traffic control units were set up at the Spring Valley Bridge and in Ceredo. Their goal --- divert traffic away from the site.
“Everything was in place; everyone had a responsibility,” Houck explained.
Although the Marshall plane crash was a catastrophe for which emergency responders trained, Houck remembers a fire at Standard UltraMarine (now BASF) causing anxious moments, particularly concerning one tank.
The fire went on for three hours. Three people died, one a firefighter from a heart attack. Jimmy Thacker working from an Ariel ladder was blown from his perch by a second explosion.
“It blew him off the ladder,” Houck said. “If he had not had a safety belt on, he would have been dead.”
The construction of Interstate 64 resulted in major tweaks, as the highway became a major piece of evacuation infrastructure.
What about a reverse circumstance, such as the City serving as a host for evacuated refugees. Houck remembered that before the Huntington Civic Center, the Memorial Field House as well as Marshall University dormitories were planned destinations.
Don’t laugh but in an era mostly before the porta-potty, Houck knew that one plan was to rip the seats off chairs, place them in the fields next to the Field House, and did latrines. Preparedness had tents, medical supplies, and food rations stored in the basement of Huntington City Hall.
The then shift commander, now councilman, knew that an influx of individuals meant sanitary, food, and health challenges, as well as housing preparation.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
